RICHLAND, Mo. (Aug. 25, 2009) — A Pulaski County man is among the 28 members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s current recruit class to make it through the first eight weeks of his training.

Douglas W. Pfeifer Jr., of Richland, reported for training on July 1 for a 25-week class whose members are scheduled to graduate on Dec. 18 and then become state troopers. Outside the immediate area, the current recruit class also includes Michael K. Martin Jr., of Rolla.

None of the other 26 members of the class have hometowns near Pulaski County.

The 90th Recruit Class began with 35 students and has since lost a fifth of its original members. Many of the recruits are new to the profession. In a press release issued Tuesday, state troopers said only two of the 28 have worked in law enforcement before and three have prior military experience.

Backgrounds of other recruits include two with some college experience, five with a two-year associate’s degree, eight with more than 60 hours of college credit, 10 with four-year bachelor’s degrees, and one with a master’s degree. The average age of the class is 24-3/4 years, according to the press release.

Most recruits are from Missouri, with two each from Illinois and Minnesota.